College of Charleston students pass "No Confidence" bill

The Student Government Association at the College of Charleston passed a "No Confidence" bill aimed at the Board of Trustees at the College Tuesday night.

The bill comes just days after the board unanimously chose Lieutenant Governor Glenn McConnell to be the 22nd President of the College. The bill outlined many concerns with the search process, saying the process wasn't open and transparent. Claims were made that Lt. Gov. McConnell wasn't one of the finalists a search team picked for the College.

That team cost the College around $100,000, so the bill is asking the board to repay that amount.

Others said they are frustrated because only one student was part of the search process.

"When you lock people out of process that greatly affects their lives, they will find other ways for their voices to be heard," one student said.

Close to one hundred students gathered at the meeting to voice their concerns.

Board of Trustees Chairman Greg Padgett was present during the meeting, to answer the concerns some students. have. The questions mostly focused on the process the board used to pick McConnell. Much of that, however, is falls under confidentiality agreements, so Padgett was unable to dive into much detail.

"I wasn't exactly satisfied with the way that the Board of Trustees answered the questions today," Danielle Stout said. "It seemed that they were giving us a runaround and not a direct solution or direct answer."

Padgett said he respects the students' decisions to vote they way the did during Tuesday night's meeting, but he also said he hopes to improve communication between the board and the students.

"We'll certainly be working with the leadership with the student government association, and I'll be more than happy to sit down and talk with them," Padgett said.

While the bill did pass, 17-5, there were concerns that the students are focusing too much on a deal that cannot be undone.

"I think [the bill] creates a little tension now between the students, the faculty and President McConnell," Sean Stivaletta said. "I think that now that things won't change, we need to start moving forward and actually start working with him."